In a recent press conference during the Quad summit, President Biden appeared disoriented, causing a stir among his staff when he seemed to forget which world leader he was supposed to introduce next.
The 81-year-old President was expected to introduce India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, but seemed uncertain about which of the three visiting heads of government he was to announce.
"Thank you all for being here and now, uhh, who am I introducing next? Who's next?" Biden called out after concluding his speech. The announcer then clarified that Modi, the leader of the world's largest democracy, was next in line. The Prime Minister subsequently ascended the stage and exchanged pleasantries with Biden.
As reported by The New York Post, the President has been hosting allies of the Quad alliance, which includes the US, Japan, India, and Australia, at his residence in Wilmington, Delaware. The brief two-day summit coincides with the United Nations General Assembly meeting, which has drawn foreign leaders to the US.
In a light-hearted moment, Biden joked about Modi's country, saying, "By the way, he's from a small country like ours. A small population like ours." He added, "He's become a good and decent man. A good friend." This comment was met with amusement, given that India's population of 1.4 billion is the largest globally, while the US ranks third with 333 million people.
During the event, Biden announced a global extension of his Cancer Moonshot initiative, a partnership between the four countries aimed at reducing cancer deaths. "I'm proud to announce that our four countries, the leaders behind me, and many organizations here today are committing over $150 million for HPV, HPV screening and therapeutics," Biden declared.
However, Biden's presidency has been marred by several instances of forgetfulness or confusion during high-profile events. Last year, he bumped into a flag at the United Nations and seemingly ignored Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva by leaving the stage without shaking his hand.
Biden, the oldest president in US history, has faced criticism over his mental acuity. Some Democrats have even pressured him to abandon his reelection bid for the White House, effectively rendering him a lame-duck president.
The Quad summit is likely to be Biden's final meeting with the alliance's leadership before his departure from the White House. Despite the challenges, Biden remained optimistic about the alliance's future, stating, "Our countries are more strategically aligned than ever before. While challenges will come, the world will change, because the Quad is here to stay."
In the coming week, Biden is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, marking the latter's fifth public trip to the US since Russia's invasion in February 2022. Zelensky is expected to discuss a "Plan for Victory" with Biden and meet Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump.
Biden is also slated to deliver remarks at the UN and engage with other world leaders throughout the week. Following the Nov. 5 presidential election, Biden is expected to attend his last Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in Peru and his final G20 summit in Brazil. These events mark the closing chapters of Biden's presidency, a tenure marked by both achievements and controversies.
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